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| | | Before you budget for a live band, you must first decide what style of music you like. WeddingGazette.com and TheKnot.com provide suggestions and advice to help you make that decision. Cover bands are the most common types of live bands hired for weddings since they often can play a range of familiar music. Other popular styles include jazz, swing, and big band. Karaoke bands, which allow wedding guests to control the microphone and sing along with the music, are also increasing in popularity. | | |
| Typical costs: | - The average cost for a 4-hour performance by a 5-member live band, which is the most typical size, is $2,085. A smaller band of 4 performers averages $1,150, while a bigger band consisting of anywhere from 6 to 10 members, averages $2,200.
- Costs for live band will also vary based on the date and time of the wedding, as well as the city or location. Larger, metropolitan areas will typically offer more bands and thus, a wider variety of prices.
- There may be additional fees for additional microphones or wireless microphones if you hire a karaoke band.
What should be included: | - Prices for live bands should include the musicians' actual playing time and all equipment necessary for the performance, including instruments, sheet music and music stands. In most cases, the band's leader can also emcee the reception, and provide a microphone and at least one loudspeaker.
- Most live bands require a 5 to 15 minute break between sets, typically once every hour.
Additional costs: | - Overtime fees are typically based on the band's per-hour charge, which can range from $450 - $750. However, some groups impose an overtime penalty, which is more than their hourly rate. Some also require that overtime fees be paid in cash on the date of the event. Many wedding planners advise booking a band for an additional hour ahead of time, to avoid any overtime costs.
- Special backdrops or stage lighting may be added to the total cost, but are often negotiable. A detailed price breakdown should always be included in your contract.
- Meals or drinks are typically not included, so if you choose to serve the band members, be sure to factor them into your head count or arrange for separate meals outside your catering budget.
Discounts: | - If your ceremony and reception are in different locations, BridalGuide.com suggests asking one member of the band that you hire for the reception to also perform at the ceremony. This may save you from incurring costs from separate musicians.
- Many live performers offer discounts for Sunday weddings. However, some do not book any Sunday performances.
Shopping for wedding music band: | - Many websites, such as PerfectWeddingGuide.com offer local resource guides for wedding entertainment.
- If you've gotten a recorded sample of the band performing, TheKnot.com advises finding out the specific singers and musicians on the recording. If you're interested in a group's 5-piece ensemble, it won't help to hear their full 12-member band.
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Article updated July 2007 |
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Recent Posts |
| Amount: $5,400.00 total |
Live Bands are expensive
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| Posted by: Justin in Ocean City, NJ. | Purchased: June, 2008 |
| Number of Hours: 4 hr. plus cocktail | Type: 10 Piece |
| We recently just booked a band for our July 2009 wedding. I just wanted to inform everyone that $2200 is well below the average for a 6-10 piece band. I would say the average wedding band charges approximately $800 per player on a Sat. night and that's average. We lucked out and got a great deal from Dynasty Entertainment. Obviously I haven't had the wedding yet, but I expect it to be great. Good luck! |
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| Amount: $400.00 total |
Information from a band in Fairfield County, CT
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| Posted by: A band in Fairfield County, CT in Fairfield County, CT. | Purchased: 2008 |
| Number of Hours: 4 | Type: |
PRICING: Most of the professional wedding/party bands charge $400-$700 per musician for a 4-hour wedding reception. You can expect the lower range on a Sunday wedding and the higher on Saturday weddings.
MUSIC: Most pro bands will tweek their song selection to suit the tastes of the wedding couple and their guests. The professional band will also usually learn the special dances (first dance, parent dances) for the event if requested to do so by the client.
BAND BREAKS: The current trend in the metro area is to hire bands for "continuous music" events with no band breaks. NY area music agencies have added this feature as a way of competing with DJs and Karaoke performers who typically don't take breaks. This means that at least one or more band members is on stage at all times providing live music. There is sometimes an extra charge for continuous music. In practice there is no real advantage to hire bands for "continuous music" since most bands will have a CD player or iPod they will happily hook into the sound system to play music on their breaks. There are times when during the reception when the guests will welcome a break from live music as well. The AFM (Musician's Union) guidelines state that for every hour, a musician is to play 40 minutes with a 20 minute break. The actual play/break times are usually decided at the time of the contract |
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| Amount: $400.00 total |
Information from a band in Fairfield County, CT
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| Posted by: A band in Fairfield County, CT in Fairfield County, CT. | Purchased: November, 2008 |
| Number of Hours: 4 | Type: |
| BAND MEALS: It has been my experience that the band is almost always fed meals at wedding receptions. The reason for this is as follows. When you add up loading equipment, driving time, set-up and sound check, playing a 4 to 5 hour reception, break down and load out, band members are sometimes looking at a 10 hour or more work day. In addition, when feeding the band members, they should be fed their meals as soon as the head table/bridal party is served. It is typical that a band will take a break when the hot meal or main course is served. When the guests start their main course they want to be able to talk and the background music should be as quiet as possible. Sometimes a caterer will wait until all 200 or so guests are served and then feed the band members last. This creates a situation where the band, having already taken a break at the start of the main course serving, has to extend their break to eat their meal. The wedding party and some guests will have already completed their meal by this time wondering where the band went and why everyone isn't dancing. Believe me, the band wants to be ready to play when the bridal party is ready for them so to avoid this situation, it is recommended that band members be served meals earlier rather than later. Most seasoned caterers will already know this but these arrangements should be made beforehand between the wedding clients and caterer. |
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| Amount: $400.00 total |
Information from a band in Fairfield County, CT
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| Posted by: A band in Fairfield County, CT in Fairfield County, CT. | Purchased: November, 2008 |
| Number of Hours: 4 | Type: |
| BAND DEMOS: Demo CDs and DVDs of bands can often be deceiving. Was the demo recorded live or in a studio? Are the people on the demo or DVD actually in the band? The best way for a client to know what a band is like is to go and hear them live. I would encourage wedding clients to go and see the band they are interested in hiring and actually introduce themselves to the band members to get to know the band before signing a contract. Most pro bands will have a schedule of where they are playing and make arrangements to have clients come and hear them at a live venue |
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| Amount: $3,400.00 total |
cost of bands
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| Posted by: Rick Creel in Cashiers, NC. | Purchased: March, 2009 |
| Number of Hours: 4 | Type: Wedding Band |
| I don't know who wrote this article originally, or what makes them an "expert" to be quoted on price. Our band, The Great Imponderables, was awarde the 2008 "Best of the Best" Wedding Band by the Wedding Merchants Business Academy. Our typical cost for 4 members for 4 hours is $3,200. Then, if there's extensive travel or lodging needs, these are added. The venues that we play for weddings do have other bands. Most all of these bands have a very similar rate as to ours. Now, there is the saying, "you get what you pay for", and this goes for bands as well. First of all, are they professionals? What makes them a professional? Well, do they do this for a living or are they a nice group of people with some talent that is trying to make some money on the side doing weddings, your wedding. Another band mentioned an easy 10 hours for a 4 hour performance. That is a very reasonable estimate. A good sound system that they should be providing will cost them into the thousands. If they have to hire sound, it will usually cost them at least $500 for a professional sound company, and that's a bargain. So let's do the math here: This site says $1,150 for 4 prfromers. Subtract the cost of $500 for a professional sound system (even the band needs to calculate this cost if they provide the sound themselves. the equipment is expensive). This brings the cost to $650. Four men at 10 hours equals 40 hours. This brings the total to $16.25 per hour per band member. Now, the band also has instruments that they have paid for, cost of strings, drum heads, etc. Does this sound like a professional that gets $16.25/hour then has other expensed to take out of that? Bands at that rate do not last but just a couple of years. Chances are, if you hire them in advance, they may not be around to play at your wedding. If you'll visit our official web site (just search the bands name), you will find more information on band pricing. Be reasonable. You get what you pay for. |
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| Amount: $7,000.00 total |
Cost of wedding bands
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| Posted by: Anne O. in Chicago, IL. | Purchased: August, 2008 |
| Number of Hours: 4 hrs plus ceremony | Type: wedding |
The amount quoted at the top of this article is way off for the Chicago area. Music is pricey but makes the reception much cooler than any DJ could ever do.
Our band cost about $7000. We had a pianist for the ceremony, music played by the band's sound engineer for cocktails and the pianist again for dinner time. Our band was 8 pieces (3 singers and a sax, keyboard, bass, guitar and drummer) and rocked the party! We also gave a meal to the pianist, band leader and sound engineer since they were there for many hours. All of them had drinks at the bar, but we asked them to be discreet and not drink more than 2 per guy. It was worth it! Our party was a blast! |
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| Amount: $7,000.00 total |
price reality
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| Posted by: laurap in Bloomfield, NJ. | Purchased: 2009 |
| The price above is not realistic in New Jersey & New York. In those areas you would pay between 5and 15K for 8 pcs. |
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| Amount: $0.00 total |
Person who wrote article on pricing for band is way off
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| Posted by: kay macklee in Houston, TX. | Purchased: January, 2009 |
| Number of Hours: 4 | Type: Variety |
| The wedding vendors who tell you that they can get a big band for an inexpensive rate for so many people in the band, are the ones who take advantage of a band that plays for a living and knows they need the income and will force them to drop their rates significantly. By doing this, they damage every musicians ability to make a living. For a 4 piece band, for 4 hours, that supplies the sound system, lighting, Emcee capability, DJ between breaks, do charge a fair rate of $ 3,500.00 for that 4 hour gig. There can be a compensation of 15 minutes or so, as gratis; but when you hit the 1/2 mark, it is time to go into OVERTIME...CHARGING $ 400.00 - $ 600.00 per 1/2 hour. IT IS OVERTIME. I understand this...and if attitude of the band is going to be better for the Bride & Groom, I certainly want that for MY wedding experience. If Brides knew this up front, it would make a difference. The Band is essential. Why are the Wedding Vendors trying so hard to cut their rate down. Wedding Vendors are not doing their brides the best by getting bands that play for drastically reduced fees. Brides don\'t find these things out until much later, when they realize they have been \'manipulated\' into going with what the vendor is suggesting; instead of having the better quality choice. All Wedding Vendors need to be more attentive to the quality they provide instead of the cheap deal. It affects memories forever. |
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